Patent GB-479473-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and connected with vacuum cleaners
IPC: A47L5/26
Filed: 1936-08-12
Abstract: 479,473. Vacuum cleaners. GOLDBERG, B. D. Aug. 12, 1936, No. 22243. [Class 8 (i)] A vacuum cleaner comprises a motor - driven fan working in a supporting casing having two passages connected respectively with a dust container and a blowing nozzle and a rotary valve member which can be actuated from outside the casing so that air drawn into said casing by the fan through the usual suction nozzle can pass either to the dust container or alternatively to the blowing nozzle. In one form, a further casing is provided within said rotary valve, said further casing surrounding the fan and having walls which extend radially inward and form seals along the major portions of the peripheral edges of the last mentioned casing. One embodiment, Figs. 1 and 3, comprises a casing part 11 having a bottom wall 25 and upright wall 24 bounding an upper chamber 14 which communicates through openings 26, 27 and 31 with the suction nozzle, the connection 28 to the dust bag and the blowing nozzle 32 respectively. The fan 15 runs in a casing 38, positioned in said upper chamber 14 and having a floor 39 with an opening 40 registering with the opening 26, openings 41, 42 in the upright wall registering with the openings 27 and 31, and an upper flange 43. The distributing valve 33 works between the casing 38 and wall 24, and has a handle 36 projecting through a slot 37 in the casing 11 whereby the valve can be turned to a position wherein the openings 41, 27 communicate through slot 34 in the valve for suction cleaning, or alternatively the openings 42, 31 communicate through slot 35 in the valve for blowing. A washer 44 is placed between the flange 43 and the lower end of the motor housing 10, the parts being secured together by screws 12. The lower chamber 13 of the casing 11 contains a rotary bush 18 driven by belt 17 from the pulley 16. A hinged bottom plate 19 having a suction opening 23 is retained by a latch 20 and spring- pressed plunger 21. The handle 30 is hollow and forms the connection to the dust bag 29, the handle being grasped by the right hand and the valve manipulated by the left hand. In another form, walls are formed integral with said rotary valve member enclosing the fan and extending radially inwardly to form seals along the major portion of the peripheral edges of the rotary valve. One embodiment, Figs. 4, 6, 13 comprises a casing part 100 having communication through openings 124, 111 and 110 with the suction nozzle, the connection to the dust bag, and the blowing nozzle respectively. The shutter valve 112 which also serves as casing for the fan 101 has a bottom wall 116 with an opening 129 registering with the opening 124, a top wall 115 apertured to receive the fan spindle, and an upright wall with an aperture 130 adapted to register with one or other of the openings 110, 111. Felt or other washers 125, 126 are provided. The shutter 112 has a projection engaged by a notch 121 in a ring 120 which 117 working in a slot 118 in past 100 and seats on a ledge 119 and has an actuating knob 122. The top wall 115 has, in known manner, a ridge 123 near the edge of the fan blades. The walls 112, 115, 116 may be integral or secured together as by welding &c. ; the fan is inserted laterally through the slot 130. Alternatively, the top wall may be removable, being supported on a ledge and having a projection engaging a notch in the body of the shutter to prevent relative rotation. The bottom plate 131 is supported at its free end by a second plate 134 supported by a spring 136, Fig. 11, engaging flanges, so that said plate 134 can be slid to withdraw it, thus releasing the plate 131 to give access to the brush 106. When adjusted for blowing, the apparatus may be employed for cleaning or drying by blowing, as an atomizer, for blowing powdered or granular material for fumigating, preservation of goods against moths, deodorizing or for use with a liquid spray device, in which application reduction of the pressure through the nozzle 110 by moving the shutter 112 so as partially to close the opening 110 and partially open the opening 111 may be desirable. The parts are so formed and the passages so shaped as to prevent the formation of dead air pockets in the apparatus.